Save the Bees: 3 important things to know

The rusty patched bumblebee was just listed as endangered making it the first species of native North American bee to be on this list. Bees all over the country are slowly disappearing so Donna Ruko is looking at why it's happening and the effects it will have.

1. The Problem

There’s a lot going on in the landscape if you're a bee because of the broad use of pesticides and because of this we've fragmented their natural habitat. The rusty patched species of bee lives in a habitat with lots of other species of bees, plants, birds and all these other things that need protection as well. What's good for the rusty patched is going to be good for a lot of different native species of bees.

2. The Consequences

Must of our nutritious fruits and vegetables like berries, tomatoes, apples and pears would disappear. Since us humans started the problem… we need to be the ones to fix it.

3. The Solution

Planting flowers can create change. Anybody that has any amount of land, even the porch in an apartment building can create habitat. Just remember, variety is key, which makes for a beautiful garden. Just like us bees need to eat all year long. You want to have plants that cycle through the entire season providing not only a continuous source of food, but a variety of different types of food. You can't just have azaleas in your yard and expect your bee population to be happy. They need to have golden rods, daisies and many other different things that provide nutrients for them.

Check out the documentary A Ghost In The Making: Searching for the Rusty-patched Bumble Bee.